ALPINE FLOWERS. 



Part I. 



moisture-loving rock-plants, Yuccas, Pampas Grass, aijd like 

 subjects ; but even the grace and beauty of the finest of these 

 will not relieve the hideousness of the masses of brick-rubbish 

 and stone that are frequently placed by the margin of water. 



Fig. 23, showing the fringe of a little islapd in one of the 

 lakes of Northern Italy, may serve to show how irregularly and 

 prettily the little waves carve the rocky shore. Frequently in 

 such places diminutive islands from a few feet to a few yards 

 across are seen, and, when tufted with Globeflowers, Ivy, Bram- 

 bles, &c. are very charming. A few artificial islets may be in- 

 troduced with good effect near a rocky margin. 



It is the fashion to make the hardy fernery in some obscure 

 and sunless spot, in which it would be impossible to grow alpine 



Fig. 23.— A glimpse at margin of island in Lago Miggiore. 



plants, but there is no reason whatever why it should not be 

 made in more open positions, and in connection with the rock- 

 garden, as I endeavour to suggest more effectively by means of 

 the opposite illustration. No plants adhere more firmly to 

 hard vertical surfaces, or better sustain themselves in perfect 

 health without any soil, than ferns. In a wild state you find the 

 Maidenhair fern and many other species so rooted into mere little 

 fissures in the hardest rocks that no effort can get out a particle 

 of root. Some of our own small British wild ferns are found on 

 the face of dry brick walls when they are not to be found else- 

 where, growing spontaneously, in the same neighbourhood. 



The general idea of fern wants is shade, humidity, and 

 sandy vegetable earth; but, though these suit a great, 

 number of ferns, others luxuriate under conditions the very 

 opposite. M. C. Naudin, of the Institute, now settled down 



